Haircolor and Sunshine

Q: I was just wondering if the hair becomes lighter when you keep it in the sun for a long time and how long it takes to
get lighter. What can we do to prevent this? Thanks very much. If you can help me answer this, I'll be really thankful.

A: The hair does indeed become lighter when exposed to sunshine the same way most pigmented material will. This is how people get what is known as the “sun-kissed” look to their hair. Those hairs at the top and outer
layers get gradually lightened by the sun. The effect generally is more rapid among those with fine hair and more porous hair where the sun’s rays can penetrate to disperse the natural color – the melanin in the hair.

A lot of women (and men) spend extra time and effort to enhance the sun’s effects on the hair. There are sprays and creams that are designed to speed “sun-lightening”, and an old standard of sun-worshippers is lemon juice.

However, not everyone likes the sun’s handiwork on their haircolor. Women who have spent a lot of time and money in the salon to get the “perfect” haircolor often look for ways to protect their hair from fading in the
sun. And there are other people who just don’t like the color effects that result from sun–lightening (many brunettes feel their hair gets too red from sun exposure, and many redheads find their hair becomes brassy).

The answer to preventing sun effects on the hair is the same for protecting the skin – sunscreen. When you’re at the beach, you can simply apply sunscreen to your hair (wet it first) and comb it through carefully. This
will also keep the hair safe from drying and damage caused by seawater and chlorination.

But if you aren’t concerned so much about beach or poolside exposure to the sun, but rather the day-to-day effect of sun exposure, look for shampoos and conditioners that offer UV protection. Many “color care” shampoos and
conditioners have sunscreens in their formulas to prevent the sun from altering their expensive color procedures. These will work just as well to protect natural haircolor.